You’ve probably heard about full day and multi day elopements and are wondering what that would look like. Well here’s the thing: there is no cookie-cutter itinerary for an elopement. That’s part of the magic of an elopement day – it is truly yours!
I always recommend a full day to couples eloping in Big Sur so you can really enjoy the best parts of what Big Sur has to offer. From the redwood forests to the epic coastal bluffs, there is so much to do and explore in the area. I strive to make sure my couples have truly stress-free elopement days, which is where a full or multi-day experience comes in. The last thing you want is for your elopement to feel like a go-go-go photoshoot switching from pose to pose with your vows somewhere in between. I plan full day elopement experiences that allow you to actually be in the moment with your partner and soak in each special part of your day. Your time together and the promises you make to each other are the most important parts of the day, and I will be there to document it with stunning images along the way.
Some couples want to go full send on adventures and include kayaking, long hikes or camping, and jet-boiling coffee on a cliff at sunrise. Other couples want to stay at a 5-star luxury resort, hiring a private chef to cook for them, and enjoy drive-up epic views with minimal hiking.
But the timeline I’m going to talk about below is for those who want that sweet spot in the middle: A little bit of hiking but nothing too strenuous, a cute Airbnb in the woods, and your favorite foods with an epic view. You want to be off the beaten path enough that your ceremony spot can’t be driven too, but not so far that you have to backpack to get there. If that’s you, I’ve got the best full-day timeline for your elopement that will allow you to experience Big Sur in a way that feels like you. Let’s dive in!
A Slow Morning Together
Your day begins in a cabin tucked beneath the towering redwoods of Big Sur. I have hand-picked, serene lodging recommendations for couples who want that perfect secluded start. There’s nothing quite like opening your eyes on your elopement morning to the sound of the forest and the smell of the trees.
Make coffee together. Enjoy some pastries. Wander outside. Let the morning be unhurried. This is one of the most beautiful parts of eloping. You don’t have a timeline dictated by a venue or a hundred guests. Instead you have stillness, enjoying the moment with each other, and allowing the day to be about you.
The Details that Tell your Story
You’ll each get ready separately while I photograph the special items you brought along. Think rings, heirlooms, handwritten notes, flowers, perfume, shoes. I know a lot of couples don’t think they want this before they start planning, but trust me: it helps tell the story of your whole day. You’re only going to have one elopement, and if you brought meaningful things with you, you will cherish those photos thirty years from now.
Seeing Each Other for the First Time
Your first look happens right outside the cabin, surrounded by towering redwoods. We take a few quiet portraits in the trees, and then the two of you walk down to the river together to exchange gifts, and read letters from your families.
Into the Redwood Forest
We head out on the trail, in one of my favorite parts of Big Sur where you start hiking through a canyon full of cacti with the ocean behind you, and suddenly find yourself in a redwood forest with a creek flowing next to you. We stop for photos along the way, and pause for a snack break in the shade of the trees before making our way back to the cars.
Coastal Picnic
We stop in Carmel to pick up whatever meal you love to enjoy together. Burritos? Pizza? Sushi? There are no rules today. Then we head to the coast and explore the bluff trails with the iconic Big Sur views stretching out in every direction. We find a beautiful spot, lay out a picnic blanket, and you eat your favorite foods together with an epic view.
Your Vows & Sunset
As the sun begins to set, you stand together on the cliffs during golden hour and exchange your vows. This is the moment you came for, you’re officially married! We spend the rest of the evening exploring and taking photos while the sun sets, and then you cozy up in a blanket together and share some beers to celebrate your epic day.
And there you have it, an example of a full day Big Sur elopement timeline!
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